Birthing chair

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a birthing chair comprising a pedestal ( 10 ) and a seat part ( 16 ) located on the pedestal, said seat part consisting of a seat base ( 22 ), a backrest ( 24 ) and foot supports ( 28 ) that are positioned at the sides of the seat base ( 22 ) and project forwards in relation to the latter. Said chair has a substantially horizontal delivery platform ( 32 ), which is attached to the birthing chair in such a way that it can be displaced between the first position, in which it lies almost completely beneath the seat base ( 22 ), and a second position, in which it lies between the foot supports ( 28 ) in front of the seat base ( 22 ), when viewed from a vertical perspective.

[0001] The invention concerns a birthing chair including a pedestal and a seat part arranged thereon with a seat base, a backrest, and laterally of the seat base forwardly positioned foot supports.

[0002] Birthing chairs are known on the market, such as for example the so-called Mayahocker or the Vitalux-birthing chair. In these inventions the birthing woman sits on an upholstered seat edge and the child is born downwardly in the direction of the floor; and there is no insurance against the falling of the child from the height of about 45 cm. on to the floor, so therefore a mat is spread beneath the chair.

[0003] Further birthing beds are known with a foot part supported on the seat base, on to which foot part the child is born and which foot part is slidable or swingable into position. The danger of a falling off of the child is therefore avoided. Nevertheless, the access for the midwife or the doctor is limited by the large foot part. The rotated posture of the midwife sitting on the foot part often results in back problems for the midwife or leads to a rapid tiring.

[0004] The invention has as its objective, for the diminishing of the previously mentioned disadvantages, a birthing chair of the initially mentioned kind whereby on one hand the danger of a falling child is eliminated or reduced and on the other hand ergonomically advantageous conditions for the midwife and the doctor are offered.

[0005] The objective is solved in accordance with the invention by an essentially horizontal delivery platform which is arranged for movement at the birthing chair between a first position at which it lies essentially entirely beneath the seat base and a second useful position in which it as seen in vertical side view—lies between the foot supports in front of the seat base.

[0006] In its second or useful position the delivery platform serves to support the arms of the midwife in assisting the birth and for supporting the newborn child after the expulsion phase. It can moreover, be used as a support surface for a secretion bowl or a waste bowl. When not needed the delivery platform can be space-savingly arranged beneath the seat base. The access room for the midwife and the doctor is thereby not limited by the delivery platform and the midwife and the doctor can comfortably work from the front while sitting.

[0007] Preferably the delivery platform is divided into two platform sections along a separation line extending generally parallel to the forward edge of the seat base, of which platform sections one is connected with the birthing chair while the other is moveably supported on the platform section attached to the chair so that it is adjustable to a vertical or dropped position from the periphery of the platform section attached to the chair. Thereby, the delivery platform when not needed requires significantly little room beneath the seat base. This is especially important in the case of a birthing chair of the initially mentioned kind wherein the seat part is mounted on a pedestal and the seat part, depending on circumstances, is pivotally and adjustably supported on the pedestal. In this case there exists only little room for the storing of the delivery platform beneath the seat base for availability purposes.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment the moveable section of the delivery platform is pivotally supported on the platform section attached to the chair for movement about a hinge axis running along the separation line and is moveable between the essentially horizontal position and an essentially vertical position. When not needed the moveable platform section is simply dropped for the storing of the delivery platform beneath the seat base and one needs only space corresponding to the plate section attached to the chair. On the other hand, the dropped plate section requires only a relatively low height so that the seat base when needed can be adjusted quite a distance downwardly.

[0009] To make possible an easy movement of the delivery platform between its two positions the delivery platform is preferably fastened to a slide which is a slideably guided on a carrier arrangement fixed to the seat part between a pushed-in position and a pulled-out position. So that the delivery platform does not unintentionally slide out of its useful position and under the seat base, the slide is advantageously retained at least in its pulled-out position by an arresting mechanism. This arresting mechanism can having a locking member which is moveably supported on the slide and it so biased that it automatically moves into its locking position in the pulled-out position of the slide, in which locking position it moves into engagement with the carrier arrangement. This biasing can be provided by a spring or by gravity.

[0010] To simplify manipulation in the adjustment of the delivery platform a displacing element is advantageously provided for the unlocking of the locking member, which displacing element is so moveably supported on the slide that it extends with an actuating end into the pivotal path of the moveable platform section. If the moveable platform section is pivoted from its horizontal position to its vertical position it automatically actuates the displacing element which then in turn unlocks the locking member so that without a needed further manipulation the delivery platform can be pushed inwardly to under the seat base.

[0011] To arrest the moveable platform section in its horizontal position a support bar is provided, with its forward end pivotally connected to the underside of the moveable platform section for movement about a pivot axis parallel to the separation line and with its rearward end guided in a support bar guide on the slide. Preferably the support bar in the horizontal position of the moveable platform section is latchable to the support bar guide so that the moveable platform section after being folded00 upwardly remains in the horizontal position.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment the support bar guide is formed by a hollow profile piece extending parallel to the shifting direction of the slide and which receives the rearward end of the support bar while on the rearward end of the hollow profile piece the locking member is arranged, and a rail is supported in the hollow profile piece which rail forms the displacing element, which rail at its rearward end controls the locking element and at its forward end is engagable by the moveable platform section. This solution offers the possibility that the rail is couplable with the end of the support bar received in the hollow profile piece, and that the support bar upon pivoting of the moveable platform section moves the displacing element to a freeing position at which the locking element can move to its locking position. Thereby through the lifting of the moveable platform section to its horizontal position not only is the support bar arrested, but also the slide is locked against an inward pushing of it.

[0013] Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the additional dependent claims and the following description, which in combination with the accompanying drawings explain the invention by way of an exemplary embodiment. The drawings are:

[0014]FIG. 1 a partially schematic side view of a birthing chair according to the invention with the delivery platform in different positions,

[0015]FIG. 2 an enlarged, partially cut away side view of the delivery platform and its sliding guide,

[0016]FIG. 3 a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2,

[0017]FIG. 4 a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2, and

[0018]FIG. 5 the portion indicated at V in FIG. 2 in an enlarged illustration with the locking bolt in its displaced position

[0019] The birthing chair illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 includes a pedestal, indicated generally at 10, which rests on a base 12 and on the column head 14 of which is supported a seat part, illustrated generally at 16, pivotal about a transverse axis 18. The seat part 16 can be pivoted about the transverse axis 18 with the help of a positioning drive 20 indicated only schematically. The pedestal 10 contains a non-illustrated lifting mechanism by means of which the seat part 16 can be adjusted in height. The seat part 16 includes a seat base 22 which is connected with a back rest 24 and from which seat base sidewise carriers 26 extend forwardly, which carry foot supports 28 and are connected with grip bows 30. The units making up the grip bows 30, the carriers 26 and the foot supports 28 can also sometimes be pivoted to the seat base 22 about a vertical axis so that they can be pivoted sidewise out of the way toward the sides.

[0020] Below the seat base 22 is a delivery platform, indicated generally at 32, which for example can have a circular shape and consist of two sections 34 and 36, which sections are linkedly connected with one another along a separating line running parallel to the forward edge of the seat base 22. The joint can be formed by rigid hinge parts or by a foil hinge so that the platform section 26 is moveable relative to the plate section 34 about a joint axis 38 between the horizontal position shown in FIG. 1 by solid lines and a vertical position shown in FIG. 1 by broken lines.

[0021] The platform section 34 is fastened to a slide, indicated generally at 40, which is slideably supported on a carrier arrangement 42 for movement in the direction of the double arrow A, so that the delivery platform 32 is moveable between the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a position at which the platform section 34 is pushed inwardly so as to be entirely under the seat base 22, as is likewise indicated in FIG. 1 by broken lines. If in this position the moveable platform section 36 likewise hangs vertically downwardly the entire delivery platform 32 vanishes—as seen in a vertical side view—below the seat base 22.

[0022] The carrier arrangement 42 is fastened to the underside of the seat base 22 through a holding bow 44 and flanges 46.

[0023] The details of the so far described platform arrangement will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2-5. The slide 40 in cross section has an essentially square box shape 48, to the upper side of which a carrier plate 50 is fastened, which serves to support and hold the plate section 34 of the delivery platform 32. The fastening of the platform section 34 is achieved by the help of two screws 52 (FIG. 2) each of which may be provided with a hand grip 54 so that it can be easily operated by hand.

[0024] The hollow profile piece 48 of the slide 40 is slideably guided by way of ball rails 56 between two box beams 58 of the carrier arrangement 42. The carrier plate 50 extends by means of side walls 60 over the box beams 58 so that the slide guide formed by the box beams 56 and the ball rails is entirely covered. The forward end of the slide 40 is closed by a front wall 62, which likewise is formed by a bent section of the carrier plate 50.

[0025] In the rearward section of the hollow profile piece 48, and lying on the bottom of this piece is a flat stick 66, which at its rearward end carries a locking bolt 68 and which at its forward end is fastened to the bottom of the hollow profile piece by a screw 70 so that it cannot be shifted in the longitudinal of the hollow profile piece 48 but can however be lifted from the bottom of the hollow profile piece. Therefore the locking bolt 68 can be moved between its locking position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, wherein in the case of a pulled-out slide 40 the bolt 68 falls in front of a cross plate 72 connected to the box beams 58, and a freeing-position which is illustrated in the FIG. 5 and in which the locking bolt 68 is so lifted in the direction of the arrow B that upon pushing in of the slide 40 the locking bolt 68 slides inwardly over the cross plate 72.

[0026] A rail 74 serves to lift the locking bolt 68 out of the illustrated locking position of FIGS. 2 and 4 to the freeing position illustrated in FIG. 5, which rail is formed by a U-profile piece standing invertedly and which extends nearly the entire length of the hollow profile piece 48, as shown by FIGS. 2-5. The U-profile rail 74 can be shifted over a limited stretch parallel to the shifting direction of the slide within the hollow profile piece 48. At the rearward end of the U-profile rail 74 facing the locking bolt 68 the side legs 76 of the profile rail 74 are each provided with a ramp 78, which with the U-profile rail 74 can slide under the locking bolt 68 and lift it by a wedging effect, as shown by the broken lines of FIG. 5.

[0027] To achieve the shifting of the U-profile rail 74 required for this, this U-profile rail 74 is provided at its forward end remote from the locking bolt 68 with two bolts 80 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) which are welded to the associated outer sides of the U-legs 76 and which extend outwardly through holes in the front wall 62 of the carrier plate 50 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile piece 48. The length of the bolts 48 is so chosen that upon dropping of the platform section 36 from its horizontal to its vertical position the bolts are pushed inwardly and thereby the U-profile rail 74 is shifted from its FIG. 2 illustrated position to the right to the position illustrated in FIG. 5 so that the locking bolt 68 becomes lifted. Therefore, upon the dropping of the moveable platform section 34 the locking bolt 68 is automatically lifted so that in a following movement, without further manipulation, the slide 40 can be immediately shifted inwardly to under the seat base 22.

[0028] To hold the moveable platform section 36 in its horizontal position, a support bar indicated generally at 82 is provided, which bar at its forward end widens to an actuating plate 84 moveable about an axis 86 at the underside of the moveable platform section 36 to which it is linked (see FIG. 1). At its rearward end the support bar 82 extends through a longitudinal slot and is slideably guided by laterally projecting guide rolls 90 engaging the bottom inner side on both sides of the slot 88. Further, a handgrip 92 is provided on the actuating plate 84 of the support bar 82.

[0029] Near the forward end of the hollow profile piece on both sides of the slot 88 on the inner side of the bottom of the profile piece are two ramps 94 which rise in going toward the forward end, and over which the guide rolls 90 on the support bar 82 can run. Between each ramp 94 and the front wall 62 is a recess 96 which is large enough to receive one of the guide rolls 90.

[0030] To move the moveable platform section 36 from the vertical to the horizontal position and to move the delivery platform entirely from under the seat base 22 to its useful position, the operating person grasps the hand grip 92 and pivots the platform section 36 in the clockwise direction of FIG. 1 upwardly. In doing this the rearward end of the support bar 82 is pulled forwardly with the rollers 90. The rollers 90 run over the ramps 94 and fall into the recesses 96 between the front wall 62 and the ramps 94. In this position the support bar 82 is latched, so that the moveable platform section 36 can no longer fall from the horizontal position to the vertical position. At the same time in this procedure the rollers 90 by way of followers 98 formed on the side legs 76 of the U-profile rail 74 take with them the U-profile rail 74 until it reaches the position illustrated in FIG. 2 at which it is out of engagement with the locking bar 68. If the delivery platform 32 together with the slide 40 is now pulled outwardly, the locking bar 68 can fall downwardly so that it aligns with the cross plate 72 on the box beams 58. Thereby the slide 40 is arrested against an unintended inward pushing.

[0031] In order to be able to drop the moveable platform section 36 from the arrested horizontal position to the vertical position and to push in the slide 40 under the seat base 22 the operating person pushes the support bar 82 upwardly at the actuating plate 84, so that the rearward end of the support bar 82 with the guide rollers 90 is lifted out of the recesses 96 into the broken line position of FIG. 2. Thereby the arresting action is removed and the platform section 36 can be swung to the vertical position. Upon reaching the vertical position the platform section 36, as has already been described above, pushes the bolts 80 the U-profile rail 74 toward the right so that this according to FIG. 5 lifts the locking bar 68 out of its latching position. Then the slide 40 can now be pushed inwardly to under the seat base 22. 

1. A birthing chair, comprising a pedestal (10) and arranged thereon a seat part (16) with a seat base (22), a backrest (24), and laterally of the seat base (22) forwardly positioned foot supports (28), characterized by an essentially horizontal delivery platform (32) which is adjustably arranged in the birthing chair for movement between a first position, at which it lies essentially entirely beneath the seat base (22), and a second position in which it—in a vertical side view—lies between the foot supports (28) in front of the seat base (22).
 2. A birthing chair according to claim 1, further characterized in that the delivery platform (32) is divided into at least two platform sections (34, 36) along a separation line running essentially parallel forward edge of the seat base (22), one of which sections (34) is connected with the birthing chair while the other section (36) is so moveably supported on the chair attached platform section (34) that it is adjustable to a vertical or dropped position relative to the periphery of the chair attached platform section (34).
 3. A birthing chair according to claim 2, further characterized in that the moveable platform section (36) is pivotally connected to the chair attached platform section (34) for movement about a pivot axis (38) running along the separation line and is pivotal between an essentially horizontal position and an essentially vertical position.
 4. A birthing chair according to one of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that the delivery platform (32) is fastened to a slide (40), which slide is guided by a carrier arrangement (42) fixed to the seat part (16) for sliding movement between a pushed-in position and a pulled-out position.
 5. A birthing chair according to claim 4, further characterized in that the slide 40 at least in its pulled-out position is arrestable by means of an arresting mechanism (68).
 6. A birthing chair according to claim 5, further characterized in that the arresting mechanism has a locking member (68) which is moveably supported on a slide (40) and is so biased that in the pulled-out position of the slide (40) it automatically falls into its locking position in which it comes into engagement with the carrier arrangement (42).
 7. A birthing chair according to claims 3 and 6, characterized in that the locking member (68) is deflectable out of its locking position by a displacing element (74) which is so moveably supported on the slide (40) that it with an actuating end (80) extends into the pivotable path of the moveable platform section (36).
 8. A birthing chair according to one of claims 2 to 7, further characterized in that the moveable platform section (36) is arrestable in its horizontal position by a support bar (82) which with its forward end is pivotally connected to the underside of the moveable platform section (36) for movement about a pivot axis parallel to the separation line and with its rearward end (90) is guided in a support bar guide (48) on the slide (40).
 9. A birthing chair according to claim 8 further characterized in that the support bar (82) is latchable to the support bar guide (48) in the horizontal position of the moveable platform section (36).
 10. A birthing chair according to claim 8 or 9, further characterized in that the support bar guide is formed of a hollow profile piece (48) which extends parallel to the sliding direction of the slide (40) and receives the rearward end of the support bar (82), on the rearward end of which hollow profile piece (48) the locking member (68) is arranged, and in which a rail forming the displacing element (74) is supported, which with its rearward end controls the locking member (68) and at its forward end is engageable with the moveable platform section (36).
 11. A birthing chair according to claim 10, further characterized in that the rail is so couplable with the end of the support bar (82) received in the hollow profile piece (48) that the support bar (82) with a pivoting of the moveable platform section (36) moves the displacing element (74) to a freeing position in which the locking member can move to its locking position.
 12. A birthing chair according to one of claims 1-11, further characterized in that the support column (10) is adjustable in height by means of a drive motor.
 13. A birthing chair according to one of claims 1-12 further characterized in that the seat part (16) at the pedestal (10) is tipable about a transverse axis (18) parallel to the forward edge of the seat base (22). 